Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro has transformed Mary Shelley's classic Gothic novel Frankenstein into a visual masterpiece where clothing speaks louder than words. In his 2025 adaptation, costumes become the primary language for expressing character psychology, historical context, and emotional depth.
The Vision Behind the Designs
Del Toro's creative vision comes to life through the exceptional work of Emmy-nominated designer Kate Hawley. According to a November 2025 Vogue Hong Kong feature, Hawley developed a unique design approach that blends biblical symbolism, Crimean War modernism, and rare Tiffany archival pieces. Her creations establish a visual narrative that perfectly balances Gothic horror with historical authenticity and fantasy elements.
Elizabeth: Angelic Presence with Hidden Depth
Mia Goth's portrayal of Elizabeth makes an immediate impact with her stunning first appearance. The character slowly turns to reveal an ensemble featuring blue feathers, a halo-inspired headpiece, and a skull held delicately in her hand. Through Victor Frankenstein's perspective, she embodies angelic purity, reminiscent of his mother's comforting presence.
Elizabeth's connection to nature and science appears through carefully chosen accessories. Her blue beetle necklace is an authentic Louis Comfort Tiffany piece from the early 1900s, linking her to Mary Shelley's Enlightenment era and Victorian influences. Hawley spent considerable time exploring Tiffany's 200-year archive to find historically significant jewelry that would enhance the character's depth.
Elizabeth's wardrobe maintains a sacred, painterly quality throughout the film. She wears transparent, bold veils and a yellow bonnet inspired by classical Madonna paintings. Mia Goth observed that her character uses the veil as protection but gradually reveals her true self when encountering the Creature. This transformation symbolizes her journey from isolation to connection.
Her wedding dress particularly demonstrates the thoughtful design process. Constructed from the inside out, similar to how the Creature's bandages are applied, the gown layers silk and Swiss ribbon to mirror his anatomical structure.
Victor Frankenstein: Aristocratic Decline
Oscar Isaac's Victor Frankenstein remains visually anchored in Mary Shelley's original time period. As an aristocrat, he wears luxurious velvet coats that reflect his family's high social standing. However, as the story progresses, these fine garments show visible wear and deterioration, mirroring his moral and psychological decline as he becomes consumed by laboratory experiments.
Victor's style evolves significantly through his interactions with Harlander, shifting toward theatrical and extravagant fashion. Inspired by Mick Jagger's Soho appearances, Rudolf Nureyev's elegance, and the rebellious energy of Francis Bacon and Picasso, he transforms into what Kate Hawley describes as a punk-rock dandy.
His aristocratic clothing becomes stained with blood and chemical residues from his scientific work. Oscar Isaac explained that Victor's red gloves specifically honor his mother's blood-red dresses and veils, creating a visual connection between death and his obsession with reanimating life.
The Creature: Beautiful Imperfection
Jacob Elordi's Creature presents a haunting combination of human vulnerability and artificial construction. Behind-the-scenes footage shows extensive transformation processes where Elordi becomes a figure that celebrates imperfect beauty. His towering, sculpted body clearly demonstrates deliberate creation rather than natural birth.
Prosthetic applications emphasize geometric, almost mechanical forms that highlight his manufactured origins. Kate Hawley's costume design complements this physical presentation through leather bandages that suggest Christ-like vulnerability and a salvaged military coat that has been carefully patched. This coat echoes his fractured physical form while creating a dramatic, elongated silhouette.
The Creature's hair, grown from multiple scalp pieces and shifting in natural earth tones, adds human qualities without losing the character's unsettling nature. Jacob Elordi recalled his first camera test required twelve hours for makeup application alone, involving 42 separate prosthetic pieces according to Elle magazine's November 2025 coverage. He described this intensive process as a beautiful moment of fully embracing the complex role.
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein demonstrates how costume design can transcend mere decoration to become essential storytelling elements that reveal character psychology, historical context, and emotional transformation throughout the narrative journey.
